The final round of the Data For Life 2024 competition took place at Vietnam Television on Nov. 27, featuring six teams: X-Fea, NCB-CDS-AIML, Small World Big Venture, ZeroToHero, GoTrust, and Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank.

At the event, Colonel Vu Van Tan, Deputy Director of Department C06 (Department of Administrative Police for Social Order), shared that while the first season of the competition saw 198 entries, the second season attracted 376 ideas and products from over 800 contestants. This expansion, both in scale and international participation, showcases the growing potential of data-driven solutions. "This is proof that data can be applied to a wide range of practical solutions," Tan emphasized.

Colonel Vu further noted that, compared to the first season, the quality of the contestants and their entries had significantly improved. Many teams presented existing products, clearly defined their target audiences, and utilized cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and AI.

The final round kicked off with a presentation by the Small World Big Venture team, which introduced DeepBreath, an app designed to monitor and alert users about air pollution levels. Hailing from Australia, this team’s innovative solution impressed the jury with its practical and immediate real-world applicability.

However, Colonel Vu suggested that to enrich the data, the app could benefit from integrating weather forecasts and other life-related data, creating a more comprehensive user experience—for example, by connecting to craft villages to offer a “green destination” experience with fresh air, shopping, and relaxation.

The next presentation came from the NCB-CDS-AIML team, which showcased an integrated platform solution for deploying machine learning models based on cloud computing. Their solution, highly customizable and easy to integrate, aims to optimize resources in sectors like healthcare, education, and security. The team confidently asserted that this platform could streamline the effective deployment of machine learning models in various social domains.

X-Fea, one of the two international teams in the final round, brought forward the solution AI-based Emergency Airway Assessment. Using image processing and machine learning, the product identifies facial and neck features to assess the difficulty of securing a patient’s airway. Judge Foong Yi Zhuan, Product Manager of Data.gov.sg, praised the solution, emphasizing that it complements clinicians rather than competing with them, offering valuable support in medical decision-making. Colonel Vu suggested that the solution could be enhanced with a dataset of doctors to further refine its effectiveness.

The ZeroToHero team presented a solution aimed at preventing social security risks for citizens aged 13 to 25. The AI model analyzes personal records, behavioral history, and living conditions to predict potential legal violations. While the jury commended the concept, they advised the team to refine the solution by defining more specific target groups (e.g., 13-18, 18-22, and 22-25) and ensuring transparency regarding data legality and privacy.

GoTrust introduced the MediPay Kiosk, a self-service solution that facilitates quick, convenient, and transparent payments in healthcare settings. This kiosk, which has already been deployed in practice, allows users to query medical history and receive tailored recommendations for medical exams, saving time and effort. The solution was widely praised for its usefulness and potential for future expansion.

The final team, from Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank, presented their Charity and Social Security Map, a product already deployed in practice. This solution has raised nearly VND1 trillion (US$39.36 million) to support thousands of individuals in need.

Within the framework of the final round, there were two seminars on innovation, data application in life, and technology solutions. The first seminar had the participation of representatives of LP Bank, Viettinbank, NCB, and BIDV, which are the sponsors of the competition, and journalist Duong Ngoc Trinh, strategy Strategy Director of VTV Times.

As part of the final round, two seminars were held on innovation, data applications in daily life, and technology solutions. The first seminar featured representatives from major sponsors, including LP Bank, Viettinbank, NCB, and BIDV, alongside journalist Duong Ngoc Trinh, Strategy Director of VTV Times.

The second panel discussion included Colonel Vu Van Tan, a Vietcombank representative, Associate Professor Dr. Ta Hai Tung, Principal of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Professor Dr. Laurent El Ghaoui, Vice Principal of VinUni, and Foong Yi Zhuan from Data.gov.sg.

The event concluded with the awarding of prizes: the first prize, valued at $11,800, was presented to GoTrust; second and third prizes worth $2,000 and $1,185 went to ZeroToHero and X-Fea, respectively. The NCB-CDS-AIML team received a consolation prize of $395. Both the Small World Big Venture team and Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank were awarded a potential prize of VND5 million ($196.81) each, along with a commemorative medal.

The top three winning teams will also join the inaugural incubation course at the National Data Innovation Center, set to open in 2025, where they will receive support to further develop their products.